Hierarchical tags with community-based ratings

Abstract

A method for generating and maintaining hierarchical tags with community-based ratings is provided. Tags for media streams are organized into a hierarchical format. Users may select tags from the hierarchical tag database that describes a particular multimedia content. If the user is unable to locate a desired tag, the user may submit a new tag. Upon submission of the new tag, a librarian approves the tag before storing and placing the tag in the hierarchical tag database. Users are also able to rate the quality of the association between the tag and the multimedia content. If a tag is rated low, the tag may be removed from the hierarchical tag database. If the tag is rated highly, display of the tag in a list of tags becomes more prominent.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method, comprising:
 receiving a tag associated with a media content from a device; 
 determining whether the tag matches one of a plurality of tags in a database; 
 responsive to the determination that the tag does not match one of the plurality of tags in the database:
 determining, by an automated approval process, whether the tag is granted approval; 
 responsive to the determination that the tag is granted approval:
 updating the plurality of tags in the database by adding the tag to the database; and 
 
 
 transmitting the plurality of tags from the database to the device or another device for selection of at least one of the plurality of tags. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining a location, in a hierarchy of previously stored tags, for the tag to be stored; 
 storing the tag in the hierarchy at the determined location; and 
 providing the plurality of tags to the device or the another device in accordance with the hierarchy. 
 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 transmitting one or more lists of possible tags that may be submitted based upon tags stored in the hierarchy; 
 receiving a selection of one of the possible tags in association with the particular item of media content; and 
 storing the selection of the tag in association with the particular item of media content. 
 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 2 , wherein determining where, in the hierarchy of previously stored tags, the tag is to be stored further comprises receiving, at the server, with the tag, user command input identifying one or more parent nodes to which the tag is a child. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein updating the plurality of tags in the database by adding the tag to the database further comprises associating the tag with an identification of one or more users who submitted the tag. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising receiving the plurality of tags from remote media devices that display user interfaces. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving ratings from users indicating a quality of associations between tags in the plurality of tags and associated items of media content; 
 calculating quality scores for the associations based at least upon the ratings from the users; and 
 removing the association of the tag and the media content if a quality score calculated for the association is below a specified threshold. 
 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 7 , further comprising providing data that causes user interfaces to display tags whose associations are rated highly more prominently than tags whose associations are rated lowly. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 calculating quality scores for tags in the plurality of tags, based at least in part on tag ratings for the tags that are weighted based upon reliability values of users submitting the tag ratings; and 
 ordering the plurality of tags based on the quality scores. 
 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 9 , wherein ordering the plurality of tags comprises determining a particular order for the plurality of tags relative to a particular item, wherein the ratings are relative to the particular item. 
     
     
       11. A system, comprising:
 control circuitry configured to:
 receive a tag associated with a media content from a device; 
 determine whether the tag matches one of a plurality of tags in a database; 
 responsive to the determination that the tag does not match one of the plurality of tags in the database:
 determine, by an automated approval process, whether the tag is granted approval; 
 responsive to the determination that the tag is granted approval:
 update the plurality of tags in the database by adding the tag to the database; and 
 
 
 transmit the plurality of tags from the database to the device or another device for selection of at least one of the plurality of tags. 
 
 
     
     
       12. The system of  claim 11 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:
 determine a location, in a hierarchy of previously stored tags, for the tag to be stored; 
 store the tag in the hierarchy at the determined location; and 
 provide the plurality of tags to the device or the another device in accordance with the hierarchy. 
 
     
     
       13. The system of  claim 12 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:
 transmit one or more lists of possible tags that may be submitted based upon tags stored in the hierarchy; 
 receive a selection of one of the possible tags in association with the particular item of media content; and 
 store the selection of the tag in association with the particular item of media content. 
 
     
     
       14. The system of  claim 12 , wherein determining where, in the hierarchy of previously stored tags, the tag is to be stored further comprises receiving, at the server, with the tag, user command input identifying one or more parent nodes to which the tag is a child. 
     
     
       15. The system of  claim 11 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured, when updating the plurality of tags in the database by adding the tag to the database, to associate the tag with an identification of one or more users who submitted the tag. 
     
     
       16. The system of  claim 11 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to receive the plurality of tags from remote media devices that display user interfaces. 
     
     
       17. The system of  claim 11 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:
 receive ratings from users indicating a quality of associations between tags in the plurality of tags and associated items of media content; 
 calculate quality scores for the associations based at least upon the ratings from the users; and 
 remove the association of the tag and the media content if a quality score calculated for the association is below a specified threshold. 
 
     
     
       18. The system of  claim 17 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to provide data that causes user interfaces to display tags whose associations are rated highly more prominently than tags whose associations are rated lowly. 
     
     
       19. The system of  claim 11 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:
 calculate quality scores for tags in the plurality of tags, based at least in part on tag ratings for the tags that are weighted based upon reliability values of users submitting the tag ratings; and 
 order the plurality of tags based on the quality scores. 
 
     
     
       20. The system of  claim 19 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured, when ordering the set of tags, to determine a particular order for the plurality of tags relative to a particular item, wherein the ratings are relative to the particular item.